The Toronto Blue Jays showcased their resilience once again, notching their 45th comeback victory of the season by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Saturday. This latest achievement places the Blue Jays at the top of Major League Baseball for the most comeback wins this year, signifying their fighting spirit throughout the season.
Saturday's dramatic win was highlighted by Alejandro Kirk's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, which capped off a three-run rally. This comeback surpasses the 44 victories from their 1993 World Series championship team and is now the fourth highest in franchise history, trailing only the remarkable 1987 team, which recorded 50 comebacks, as well as the 1983 and 1984 teams, with 47 and 46 comebacks, respectively.
Kirk, who credited the energy in the dugout for their success, noted, "Everybody just paying attention to every base hit, every pitch. Everybody’s there supporting each other. It’s unbelievable." The camaraderie and determination within the team have proven to be instrumental in their late-game performances.
After falling behind 2-0, the Blue Jays responded in the fifth inning when Addison Barger smashed a home run. Kirk and fellow pinch-hitter Joey Loperfido collected RBIs in the eighth and ninth innings, which brought Toronto within striking distance of the Orioles.
In a clutch moment, light-hitting Andres Gimenez's single drove in Ernie Clement, equalizing the score at 4-4. George Springer subsequently walked, loading the bases with one out, setting the stage for Kirk's pivotal at-bat. He connected on a 95.5 mph sinker from Baltimore reliever Yennier Cano, hitting a pop fly that traveled 321 feet to center field. This allowed Loperfido to trot home, securing the Blue Jays' ninth walk-off win of the season.
Kirk expressed his excitement during the game, stating, "I was excited, I was ready for the at-bat, I was trying to put good contact on the ball." Acknowledging the pressure of the situation, he felt reassured by having All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. behind him in the lineup.
This victory marked the Blue Jays' third consecutive win as they gear up for the post-season and aim to secure the American League East pennant. At present, Toronto holds the best record in the American League, positioning them well for a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Manager John Schneider acknowledged that the team's ability to mount late comebacks is often nerve-wracking but ultimately thrilling. He remarked, "Think it just says a lot about the character of the guys in the clubhouse. The offense late, man, it’s not great for my heart, it’s not great on my ticker, but it’s awesome to watch unfold."
On the mound, Max Scherzer pitched five innings for the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five batters. Relief pitchers Tommy Nance, Eric Lauer, Seranthony Dominguez, and Braydon Fisher contributed to the effort, with Fisher earning the win and improving his record to 6-0. Scherzer noted that he and Schneider had a strategy to manage his innings to ensure readiness for the upcoming playoffs, emphasizing, "We talked about how we should manage this one so that we’re really good for the next two to go into the playoffs."
In related news, the National League-leading Milwaukee Brewers clinched their playoff berth later that same day. The Blue Jays' victory kept them three games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East, as the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-3 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox now sit 5.5 games behind Toronto in the division standings.
